County Employment And Wages: Fourth Quarter 2005 — 2006-07-26

In December 2005, Lee County, Fla., had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Lee County, which includes Fort Myers, experienced an over-the-year employment gain of 9.2 percent, compared with national job growth of 1.7 percent. Orleans County (New Orleans), La., had the largest over-the-year gain in average weekly wages in the fourth quarter of 2005, with an increase of 28.7 percent. The in- crease in Orleans County was related to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, discussed in some detail below. The U.S. average weekly wage increased by 1.5 percent over the same time span.